Bodymind: How Your Thoughts Affect You Physically

Did you ever wonder how the power of your thoughts can affect your body? Dr. Bernie Siegel, the author of Love, Medicine and Miracles, was giving a talk to a room full of skeptical doctors when he brought out a copy of Lady Chatterly's Lover and proceeded to read the most erotic part. As he put the book down he said, "Just as reading a book can stir our sexuality, so you can see how our thoughts and feelings can affect us physically." The doctors were immediately convinced!

There is now a whole new science called pschonueroimmunology exploring just that: the relationship between the psyche or mind, the nervous system and the immune system.

This exercise helps you understand how your own mind and body work together. Over the next week, practice watching the physical effects in your body of different situations, thoughts or feelings. Observe yourself, your reactions and your body. As you do this, you will begin to see how closely all the different parts of your being, both physical and psycho/emotional, are interwoven.

Be aware of when you are irritated or frustrated
Where are you experiencing those feelings in your body? If you are stuck in a traffic jam, a client is late for an appointment, or the children keep interrupting your conversation, what happens to your breathing, or your shoulders or stomach muscles? Does your breathing get short and shallow? Do the muscles tighten?

Observe anxiety reactions
What happens in your body when you are worried or anxious about something, perhaps a child who is late coming home, or a presentation you have to give, or the results of your partner's blood test? Where do you hold the anxiety? What physical effect does it have? Do fears about the future create a pain in your stomach? Or do your legs ache or feel tired?

Watch how you react when someone is angry with you
If your boss or your partner shouts at you, what happens to your heart, your head, your insides? What do you do with angry feelings? Do you express them, or is there somewhere you put them? Is your headache because you have built up unexpressed anger? Do you swallow hard, get a sore throat, clench your muscles, or get constipated?

Observe how memories affect you
What happens if you recall past memories? Do you feel warm and relaxed, or do you break out in a sweat and feel nervous? Pay particular attention to what happens when you recall unhappy memories, perhaps when a parent hit you or you were bullied at school. As you follow these memories, watch where in your body there is a reaction, a tightening or nervousnes.

Analyze illnesses and injuries
Think back to past illnesses or times when you were hurt. Note the parts of your body that were involved. Have you always held your stomach muscles in tight, have you always had recurring headaches, have you always hurt the same side of your body?

This is just one way of seeing how your thoughts and feelings affect you physically. Understanding how you hold issues or feelings in your body will enable you to focus on their release. For instance, if you tighten your stomach muscles as a way of holding your feelings back, then you can acknowledge those feelings as you also consciously relax your belly.

It is like taking blinders off and seeing for yourself what is going on with you. If you feel as if your body is a stranger this is a way to make friends with yourself. It is an invaluable opportunity to see what you can do to make a difference in your own healing.

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Deb Shapiro is the bestselling author of Your Body Speaks Your Mind. Read more at www.EdandDebShapiro.com

Comments

[AndiG]

Hi Deb...I'm really getting a lot out of your blog! It's valuable information that I've noticed can avert something more serious happening in my body. If we don't have our health, what do we have? Your blog is full of pertinent info...many thanks and keep your blogs a'coming!!!

[JBS]

You're only addressing half the equation.

Physical injury and pain produce anxiety and depression as well. It's hard to get an upbeat outlook when you're in pain all the time and don't have the money to see a doctor.

[honestman]

It is also known as PNI 'psycho-ne­uro-immuno­logy'

This is a fascinating science that is so amazing. Read about this and learn more in Deb's award winning book YOUR BODY SPEAKS YOUR MIND. Everyone will benefit. It is a required reading in message schools and other alternative healing courses. I feel the medical profession shchool check it out. There is a world of worth in those pages.

[BannedInBoston]

"Psychoneu­roimmunolo­gy"? Try saying THAT rapidly three times in a row!

[DarthVector]

On this point... read varela, thomson, rosch : the embodied mind (1991).

http://www.amazon.com/Embodied-Mind-Cognitive-Science-Experience/dp/0262720213/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221927723&sr=1-1

3 well-respected academics discuss the mind as an aspect of embodiment, and note how buddhist theories of mindfulness are an effective set of tools for modeling and understanding cognition beyond the idea of the "I".

They're not off in karmic la-la-land - a neuropsychologist, philosopher and psychologist, who know how to relate western scientific observation to eastern insight. You might like to check it out...

[Lizzypie]

As always, Debs article is a poignant reminder of the body mind connection. To have such an intangible topic touched on so pragmatically makes it very accessable. Thanks Deb

[Delle]

A fantastic article!

I've always believed in the mind/body connection.

The comments here concern anger, etc.

However the mind can effect more trival things - such as appetite.

Concentrate on a slice of apple pie, or a scoop of ice cream and soon your mouth will be salivating for that treat.

The advertiseing industry realizes this.

Thanks for posting this.

[honestman]

Let's be real this subject, understanding the bodymind and how your thoughts affect your body is important to all of us. Normally we accept or reject getting ill an then go to a doctor or alternative therapy without trying to understand what is happening to ourselves. But imaging discovering for ourselves what might be the cause of our illness. Knowing what role our thoughts play in causing and healing ourselves. How absolutely wonderful. Deb Shapiro's intuitive understanding is groundbreaking and healing. This is a subject that should be taught everywhere. Especially in Yoga therapy, message schools and body therapy trainings. How could it not be?

Three cheers to Deb Shapiro.

[ken108]

Once again, Deb has addressed the fundamentals of the mind/body connection with refreshing simplicity and directness. Thanks.

[esloneliner]

I think Deb has touched upon something between the mind and body. The way she explains the connection seems so real and makes you say, "WOW, she just might have something here".

A quick story, last year I was going through a bit of anxiety, and not knowing where it was coming from someone told me about Deb's book and meditation CD's, "Your Body Speaks Your Mind". After listening to the CD's and controlling my breathing pattern that Deb explains step by step, I was able to put my anxiety in check. Now, whenever I start feeling anxious, I stop and think of what I learned from Deb's book and cd's. Can't wait to see what she has coming out next.

Thank you. You have been a great help!

[krcok]

My Dear Deb Shapiro, So much wisdom to absorb. You are absolutely correct about this mind/body connection. It has only taken me 60 plus years to 'get' it. Thanks to your research and writings. I am making a conscious effort to make the connection daily. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Please keep blogging for all of us.

[Jonahson]

Pt.2
Find some time for yourself, a quite moment. Hold all mental thoughts, relax and develop awareness of the breath coming in and going out of the nostril. Breathe naturally until you feel the breath is as fine as silk. Feel the warmness of the breathe as it exhale through the nostril. Now open your feelings and thoughts inside you and direct your awareness to any unhappy thoughts. Lock on to any discomfort and at the same time direct the discomfort to the breath going out through the nostril. Feel the warmness of that thought going out as breath through the nostril Sometime it even feels rotten. Carry on until the heat disappears. When you awake from that simple exercise you will feel much better.

[Jonahson]

Pt.1
When anger arise and then we either try to suppress it or uncontrollably let it explode, in
both ways we suffer mentally and physically. The best way is not for anger to arise but that require
you to a saint of some sort. It can be done; by means of mental training and insight to the cause of
our anger. But for those who still harbor hurt or anguish from various incidents in life here
is something you can do about it;-

[livinlife]

So many of our lifes decisions are made by physical reactions to situations and are often not the right response. This is why I have always liked Meditation in that it takes out the effect of the physical body and allows you to see the world and your life more clearly.